Is this scaly leg mites?

[EggSighted4Life]

Their legs also don’t seem irritated, and they aren’t limping or anything.

Doesn't look like it to me.. I took one to the vet once.. he said it should look like yellow crusty stuff pushing the scale up/out.

But some scales allow for the movement of the joints. Those look fairly normal to me.. Noting some folks will even use Crisco.. to suffocate SLM.. since it's also *edible*.

If treating MANY birds.. I would use Ivermectin.. IF SLM were confirmed. For a small flock topical treatment is simple enough.. Coat the legs.. at night, leave covered.. easiest done after dark (on site) to prevent chasing.

 

[MarkJr]

Yes, but not sure I'd treat with anything 'wet' in freezing weather.
You could pack some permethrin dust up under the scales....
...or wait until it warms up.

Aaahhh..... nice catch!

 

[MarkJr]

Oh. Don't overdo it either. Greased chicken feet and greased roosts are hilarious..... but mean.

 

[black_cat]

Yes, but not sure I'd treat with anything 'wet' in freezing weather.
You could pack some permethrin dust up under the scales....
...or wait until it warms up.

It's going to be a 'hard freeze' tonight with a low of 18 degrees fahrenheit. I don't have any permethrin, I don't think.

 

[black_cat]

Should I leave it for now because of the cold temperatures? When I clean the coop this weekend, should I do a deeper clean than usual? (usual=removing obvious poop + some dirty shavings, putting shavings from nest boxes into coop, and adding new shavings to coop and boxes)

 

[aart]

It's going to be a 'hard freeze' tonight with a low of 18 degrees fahrenheit. I don't have any permethrin, I don't think.

Should I leave it for now because of the cold temperatures? When I clean the coop this weekend, should I do a deeper clean than usual? (usual=removing obvious poop + some dirty shavings, putting shavings from nest boxes into coop, and adding new shavings to coop and boxes)

I would not worry about it for now.
They spread very slowly if at all.
Just keep an eye on it and prepare to slather(some kind of ointment) in the spring.

 

[aart]

Doesn't look like it to me.. I took one to the vet once.. he said it should look like yellow crusty stuff pushing the scale up/out.

That's when it gets bad, the slightly raised scales are just the beginning.

 

[black_cat]

That's when it gets bad, the slightly raised scales are just the beginning.

I've seen some very bad cases on 'rescued a hen from a horrible breeder/neighbor/farm' threads, but I'd never let mine get that bad. I'll definitely keep an eye on it and try to do treatment in the spring. They're not going to be happy lol

 

[aart]

They're not going to be happy

You won't either, not a fun job.

 

[Jenjens]

I brought in a hen from an organic farm that has those mites in October. By December all but 1 ended up with them. They do spread. My original flock had beautiful leg scales and they all ended up dry and raised. I tried castor oil for a few days and ended up doing ivermectin, which was suggested here, with castor oil every few days. No difference in appearance, but it takes a while. Aart is an expert here, but I will have to disagree. They spread fast.

It does look like slm.